Land Acquisition Bill passed in Lok Sabha, Congress stages walkout

New Delhi: A toned down version of the Land Acquisition Bill–with nine amendments but without the consent or the social impact assessment clause – was passed by Lok Sabha today. There was furore over the ruling side’s reluctance to consider the Opposition stand especially on the question of social impact and the Bill was passed with Congress staging a walkout.

BJP’s ally Shiv Sena abstained from voting.

In fact the Opposition had moved 53 amendments but none were passed. To accommodate the Opposition the Centre moved the amendment for a “hassle-free” mechanism for redressal of grievance and doing away with the exemption to social infrastructure projects in the PPP mode.

According to former Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran, “In the event that the government is unable to actually get any voting done before the Rajya Sabha and as it has happened with regard to the MMDR Bill, then actually they will be in a limbo. In such an event, the only course that will be open with the government is to repromulgate the ordinance.”

“Sheer tyranny of majority” led to the passage of the Bill in the Lok Sabha, observed chief Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.